The loud crash of Leo's wooden block on the marble table shattered the silence and concentration in the room. "Emma," Blue said, her voice melodic over the consistent hum of her wings. "You must concentrate. You can't let the little things distract you." Early afternoon flooded into the oblong windows and bathed the floor in square shaped patterns. From the records of the palace, the room had once served as the family dining room, but had been transformed into another study when the grounds had been expanded some years earlier.

The Princess's full lips turned downward. "I think I'm just tired," she muttered, using her palms to push away from the heavy table. "I think I will go take my leave."

"No," the fairy said more firmly. "Emma, this is important. We are growing short on time. We must have you prepared."

Snow looked up from the book she was reading as though she had not be interrupted by the loud crash. "Perhaps a small break?"

"No," Blue insisted. "We must get Emma ready for this. I know you are hoping she won't have to more than threaten Rumpelstiltskin, but we can't be too sure. We can't have her simply stand there and make things appear and disappear. There must be some defense to her actions, as well as some manner of threat."

Snow bit her lip as she watched her daughter resign herself to the task again with a deep intake of breath. "Perhaps it is better if I leave you three alone?" She tipped her head toward the silent Elsa and retreated toward the door. "I'll see about Regina and removing the ban on her magic."

The fairy floated toward the door and then back again, obviously agitated either by the talk of Regina or Emma's lack of concentration. After dictating careful instructions to the Princess again, she waited to see if there was any progress. Again Emma allowed the block to levitate in front of them, her eyes penetrating the smooth surface. This time it moved forward, only about two feet.

"Very good," Elsa acknowledged, her slender hands clapping together as Anna would do. "You launched it."

"Not good enough, Emma," Blue chastised. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you must not let whatever it is interfere. Everyone is relying upon your ability to defeat the Dark One."

***AAA***

"Killian!" Leo called, ignoring Johana's warning that both Henry and Roland were down for their naps. The boy's feet slapped noisily on the rugless floors as she scampered toward the pirate with arms thrown out for greeting. "You came here!"

"You sound surprised," Killian chuckled, bending at the waist to catch the young prince. "I told you that we would see each other again someday."

Leo's green eyes shifted to the right as he considered this. "You missed me?" he asked. "And Emma."

"Aye," Killian agreed, noting the boy's lack of a filter when it came to emotions. Emma wore her feelings under a mask of propriety and fear, but Leo was too young to do that. He was much more open and honest with his. "The two of you have been quite prevalent in my thoughts, lad. How have you been?"

It might have just been a polite question, something people asked upon seeing someone. Usually it was answered with a one word response. However, in this case, Leo launched into a litany of his daily activities since he had last seen the pirate. While hearing such monotonous details might have bored a man, Killian smiled and nodded as though he had been wondering about just those very things.

"You are surely boring the poor Captain," Johana said to Leo, extending her hand to clasp his. "We should let him be." Killian winked an eye at her, placing his hand on Leo's shoulder.

"Perhaps we can continue this conversation later, your highness. I was on my way to the library to do a bit of research on a topic. Is it possible you might point me in the right direction?" Though his face bore scars of his violent past, his smile was both genuine and nonthreatening as he looked upon the boy.

Leo nodded, his jaw dropping as his arm swung out toward the small children's library behind him. "That's the best one," he declared. "Books and more books." Looking proud, he seemed startled when Johana interrupted.

"I believe the Captain might be looking for something more suitable for his needs," she said gently, pulling the young Prince into her side. "Mr. Locksley is on the third floor in the rear. He's been researching some details of possible weakness that the…that the man might have."

"My thanks to you both," Killian said, his eyes crinkling when Leo seemed delighted at having helped. "I will go there now, but perhaps I'll swing by this library later, lad. You can show me something good to read before I retire tonight."

The third floor of that wing of the palace was not an often used place. There were more bed chambers, a few sitting rooms, and the like all dark and closed off from prying eyes. The library was well lit and obviously receiving more use as Robin had situated himself there for the duration. Killian entered the room with quiet steps, though even those made the lighter haired man look up from the yellowed pages of some volume.

"Captain Jones," he said rather formally. "I had thought you were out on the property some place."

"I was, but wanted to search out some information that might come in handy," Killian answered, leaning over the scattered books on an adjacent table before turning his attention to the tall shelves. "It seems this palace has a few libraries and repositories."

Robin chuckled loudly. "The more time you spend with royals," he said, smoothing a hand over the page he had been reading, "the more you will see their common traits. Royals are collectors of things. Jewels, land, gold, and other types of treasure. But most of all, they seem to collect books. They may not actually read them, but they have them in great supply. Whole rooms are dedicated to their organization by topic. It's quite fascinating really."

"And your family is not like this?" Killian asked. He had heard of Robin only vaguely, but he'd never taken an interest in the stories. Robin primarily had acted on land while Killian's domain was the water.

"My family was nowhere close to the nobility of these people, but my wife…" He smiled sadly. "She's the royal one in our little family. It seems a great waste to me, but most of these palaces are filled with rooms that someone might not enter for months or even years. It surely must seem odd to you too."

"Aye, mate, every bit of space on a ship is used to its utmost," he said, the pads of his fingers running along the spines of the organized books. "There is no room for waste or luxury at sea. Each cabin serves dual purposes at least."

"Perhaps I should have been a pirate rather than a thief," Robin joked, rolling his head from side to side to relieve the tension of staring downward too long. "It sounds like a fine life from what I'm told. I'm sure you're anxious to get back to it."

"I'm a man of a singular purpose at the moment." Taking a deep breath, the pirate spied the man in front of him. His tunic was simple, as was his demeanor. While he could certainly carry off the airs of a much higher placing man, he seemed rather normal and without pretense. It made Killian wonder how such a man could win the love of a woman who born and fought so determinedly to run a kingdom. Regina, whether or not she was the current queen, was not a woman who suffered fools or wasted her attentions on someone deemed unworthy.

"Mate?" Robin asked, amusement seeping into his usually commanding voice. "I wonder if you might tell me why you are staring like that. Did I stain myself during the last meal? Have I grown a second head? Do I remind you of someone?" His titter echoed off the stone walls.

"My apologies," Killian answered. "I suppose I was lost in thought."

***AAA***

Elsa held her breath as Emma descended the stairs and met her on the second floor landing, her hands clasped in front of her and the barest hint of a smile on her face. "Your parents aren't joining us?"

Sighing heavily and casting a longing glance over her shoulder, Emma did not seem amused. "They are debating the whole magic issue with Regina." She frowned severely, her face crumpling. "I hate when they do that. I hate hearing them argue."

"They are fiery people, Emma," the blonde Queen said, her voice calm if a little bit aloof. "And it is a difficult decision. If she's lying or betraying you, this could be…"

"Is it strange that I feel like we should trust her?" Emma asked suddenly. "Her son, Henry, is quite a boy. He's so smart. Did you know that he could…You don't wish to hear about this. I'm sorry. I'm a horrible hostess. I even left you alone to fend for yourself today while my mother and Granny taught me more about their weapons of choice. You must think me a horrible clod." Emma knew that Elsa was not one for leaving her home, let alone her kingdom. The Princess had been so preoccupied with having Killian there and then her lessons that mother hand Granny had thought important.

"It's quite alright," Elsa soothed. "Killian helped me to gather some things for Regina. It wasn't so bad. And as for trusting her, I think I understand. She does seem to be holding in good stead for this. I do truly believe she wants to protect her family at whatever the cost. You and I both know that having your magic subdued makes you feel quite empty and worthless."

Though Elsa was satisfied with her explanation, Emma's eyes flashed at her friend who was already leading them down to the main floor. "You were with Killian?" she asked, her voice slightly unsteady. "Today?"

"Yes, I found him in the main hall this morning and asked him if he would join me in searching for these items that Regina thought might be useful." Elsa was going into a list of what the former queen had suggested, explaining some of the harder to procure ones when she stopped cold. "Oh Emma, I didn't…He was being helpful. He was helping me because it was something for you. That's all. It wasn't anything more."

Giving out a breathless laugh, the Princess shook her head. "Elsa, he was very kind to help you and you were equally kind to keep him company today when I was such a bad hostess."

"Emma, don't worry so much. I am not at all interested in him in any way other than as your friend. You needn't be jealous of that."

"I'm not jealous," Emma protested, her bottom lip protruding outward with her defiance. "There's no reason for me to be jealous of you and Killian. I have no claim there. I just worry that he might be a bit brash for you. He can be that way being a pirate and all, but if you say he was helpful I believe that."

"Yes, he was a perfect gentleman. And perhaps that is why I discussed something with him that I think you should know about." The Queen's demeanor became quite secretive as she looped her arm through Emma's and pulled her into one of the less often used rooms with a furtive glance around.

"I need to tell you about what Anna knows about the Dark One," Elsa announced. With her less than emotional tone and icy demeanor, the statement came with a feeling of dread. Emma nodded mutely and let the woman tell her of the dagger and its rumored powers to control the Dark One.

"So we could control him if we could get our hands on it," Emma said with a glint of hopefulness. "We wouldn't have to kill him or hurt him. We could simply tell him not to hurt Henry or anyone else."

That interpretation was rather simplistic, but Elsa agreed that it would be the safest of the options. "The problem is getting our hands on it. We have to find a way to his castle and then find our way into it. He's not likely to leave such a device out and unguarded. Our best bet is to do so when he was not there." The calmness of her voice did not hide the contempt she had for this man who had tried so desperately to best her sister.

Emma sympathetically reached her hand out to grasp that of the Queen, smiling in recognition that Elsa was not wearing her gloves that were used to hide the magic she had concealed for so long. "You're not wearing your gloves," she nearly whispered.

"I'm trying, Emma," she said with firmness to her resolve. "I want to lead a normal life. You're a bit of an inspiration to me, in that you can control your magic so easily. You hide it from almost everyone until they truly know you. I've never known you to have outbursts like mine."

The torment that Emma felt boiled just under the surface. She knew that her emotions often did get the best of her, remembering the jealousy she had felt upon seeing Lily kissing Killian. The flash of her magic had erupted before she even realized it, sending the barmaid across the deck of the ship. She had not intended to hurt anyone, but yet the action had sent the woman reeling. Emma confessed this to her friend, gripping the Queen's hand in her own as she did. "I can't explain it."

"Perhaps your magic is much more emotional than you would care to think it is," Elsa said, still cloaking her own fear of delving too far into her intrinsic abilities. "Emma, I know you have pushed this topic aside, but it's important we both understand our abilities. Once we face the Dark One, there will be no second chance to get it right. We will have to be ready for a first strike."

"You say we as though you are going to fight with me," Emma said, knowing her friend was unlikely to let up on the topic she was broaching before. "I did not bring you here for that. I only wanted you to help me prepare."

"And I am not a coward, Emma," Elsa said, not offering an excuse or a reason. "I will be by your side for this so long as I am needed."

The Princess's eyes cast downward. "Elsa, you are a true friend. I'm not sure what I have done to deserve your loyalty."

Squeezing the clasped hands tighter, Elsa attempted her best smile. "That's why we must work through this block that is making your magic inconsistent. It isn't anything we can't face."

***AAA***

Killian lunged forward, the tip of his sword piercing the muslin of the man before him. Had it been a real man there would have blood pouring from him, but the practice doll had no such features. The pirate retreated two steps, spun gallantly, and thrust the sword in again with a flourish that made him seem both wild and careless. His leather coat billowed with his moves and snapped as he stood back to admire his work.

"I suppose even a pirate must practice," came a deep voice from the other side of the racks of various jousting and fencing equipment. That corner of the cavernous practice area was dark with no windows to let the light seep in through the panes. Killian blinked as his eyes adjusted and made out the tall figure of the King standing there.

Emma had told Killian that her father had been raised to be a shepherd, but standing there it was another story. David folded his hands one over the other and clutched to the sash that was tied about his waist. His hair was the color of sand after the rain, but his eyes were bright and friendly. The tip of his nose went up slightly and his mouth drew into a look that indicated he was watching the man in front of him with some concern.

"A man who thinks he is above practice and preparation is easy prey, your majesty," Killian said, sheathing his intricately carved sword at his side and waiting for the man to step out of the shadows. "I hope you don't mind me using your facilities here."

With his hand flying quickly upward and rolling in the air, David indicated that this imposition was not that important. "I doubt many of your activities would meet with my approval or the law, but I promised my daughter that I would consider your information without letting that shade my judgment."

With the way the man's face lit at the mention of his daughter, Killian had no doubt that Emma was the apple of his eye. Not only was this man a king, but he was the woman's father. In all his years and experiences with women, Killian rarely had to deal with fathers and never with kings. It merely served to remind him that he was out of his league with any thoughts of him and Emma being more.

"I expected you might challenge me to a duel finding me here and hearing that I had corresponded with your daughter." The pirate, for all his nefarious ways, knew that the quickest way to disarm a potential threat was with honesty. For a moment it seemed to work, as the king's stuttered footsteps indicated his lack of balance. He quickly recovered though and evened the field.

"I promised my daughter that I would give you a chance, pirate," he said, enunciating every syllable of the moniker. "However, one false move."

"I assure you that I feel no comfort in my position or station here," Killian said, furrowing his brow. "But if you don't trust me, why are you here to talk to me. Unless you aren't?"

The King's resolute stand could have doubled for a statue, but Killian was sure there probably was one already or at least in the works. Wasn't that what these people did in their spare time, he thought. Pose for portraits and statues so that they might be admired and worshipped by commoners even after their deaths. It was not a fitting thought or a smart one, as he began to wonder then if Emma had sat for a portrait and tried to imagine an artist capturing the life in her eyes and the way he hair reminded him of sunrise over the choppy seas. Could an artist manage to portray that way she shook just before she laughed or the way her fingers felt as they traced over his hand, reminding him of lacey patterns? He shook his head a bit too violently in an attempt to remove the thoughts from his head before he learned her father had some magical ability to read minds.

"My daughter and the Queen Elsa have spoken to my wife and I," he said, sounding overly formal, which to Killian was a bad sign. "They say you know of this dagger."

He lifted his shoulders casually. "I know what the Queen has said of it, but little more. There are rumors of such a thing, but I've never had a chance to test their truthfulness."

"Then we are on equal footing with this?"

"I suppose that is accurate. Though since you are the one with the plan of how your group thinks to rid itself of the Dark One, I suppose you might have the advantage."

The King looked pensive as he strode closer to Killian, his steps measured and sure. "The Dark One loves to make a scene. I'm sure that you've seen that of him as well."

"Aye," Killian agreed. "He's surely one for an audience."

"We are hosting the Queen of another kingdom right here in this very castle. It would be customary for use to hold a ball in welcome of her, allow the courtiers and the nobles to see and greet her. That is if we weren't planning an all out attack." He chuckled at his own observation, keeping a keen eye on the man before him. "But in thinking about it, I realized that this might just be the perfect opportunity to draw him out."

Killian felt his stomach twist, as he remembered Emma's gratefulness that the Dark One had stayed away. She had confided in him that she was not ready and felt petrified at the thought of facing him yet. "You want the Dark One here?"

"Yes," David said as though he had just announced his preference for a specific beverage. "He will be easier to subdue on our property. And I will bring in my best knights and guards to procure the dagger during that time he is away. It is risky, but I am hopeful."

Killian's laugh sounded a bit darker than he was used to sharing. "Hopeful," he repeated, forgetting for a moment that a single word from a man this politically powerful could have him off to the brig again. "Your daughter's life and safety is at stake and you are hopeful. I should think you would want to be more than that."

"My daughter's safety is my concern," David snipped back. "I'm curious though how you see it as your own." He cleared his throat, eyeing the darker haired man with suspicion. "While I do certainly appreciate your intelligence on Rumpelstiltskin's whereabouts, I have to wonder about your motive, pirate. Why are you doing this? I certainly hope it is not to gain favor with my daughter."

"Much like your daughter, you do seem to get to the heart of the matter," Killian noted with some humor. "No, I have no designs on earning anything as precious as your daughter's favor, your highness. I met her only a few weeks ago. While I do admire much about her, I am simply here still because we all share a similar goal. You want the Dark One contained and his threat to be weakened. I want much the same if not worse for the man who took my hand."

Again with the honesty, Killian thought as David was clearly regrouping. "I suppose then I should be worrying that you are using my daughter to better your chances at defeating the Dark One?"

His hand rested snugly on the handle of his sword, gripping it as his only defense against the King's insinuations. "Your daughter is neither a prize nor a means to an end," Killian said with curt rectitude. "She alerted me to her need of my services and ship. I shared with her my knowledge of the Dark One because I do so admire her tenacity and bravery to fight a battle that is not fully her own."

David's shift of his weight was barely perceptible. "You are quite brash to think I am doing this lightly," David said, visibly offended by the pirate's accusation. "Emma will be in no real danger. She is only meant to panic and alert the Dark One that he is not the only entity with stunning powers of magic. Unlike his, which are gained through darkness and deceit, Emma's come more naturally and have always been without the shadow of a curse."

It was not as though Killian needed to see the benefit in Emma's powers, as he had already found himself in appreciation of them as a part of her. "As bait, you mean?"

"In a way," David admitted. "And she has convinced my wife and I that she will be fully prepared for that role along with the Queen Elsa and Regina." He said that with no hidden disdain, fully realizing that he had given his okay already in his head to returning Regina's powers. Killian did not call him out on it. "Robin will be of use here to protect his wife and my daughter, but your role is the one that causes me pause."

"My role?" Killian asked. He had not thought about that other than hoping he could run an undarkened Rumpelstiltskin through with his sword. He knew the man was immortal, but he had spent years studying and hoping that he might find some caveat that would make that possible. There was no desire on his part to be a cohort with royalty.

"Your presence here presents a challenge with this plan," David admitted, looking much like his daughter as he lowered his eyes. "My disdain for men of your type is well known. If word got out that I was not only welcoming you into my home but collaborating with you, I'm sure that our ruse would be discovered. My wife suggested that you might be sent with the knights to retrieve the sword, but I'm not fully convinced that I trust you for such a mission. You could attempt to your own detriment to procure that powerful article for yourself. You are a pirate, after all."

"You seem a bit hung up on that," Killian challenged, "but I suppose I can understand your trepidation."

"I considered this for the past hour or so. I have come to two solutions that are fitting. I could pay you to procure this dagger for me and then disappear before anyone knows of our deal."

"And by disappear you mean that I would…" He could not even finish the sentence, his mouth feeling like old paper that was dry and dusty.

"Do just that. Disappear. No calls upon our family and certainly no correspondence with my daughter or son." Killian remained silent, his whole being shriveling a bit under the King's scrutiny. The man seemed to see what he was searching for in the pirate's silence. "So I suppose that means that I would wish for you to stay here and attend this ball in the Queen's honor, but not as yourself," David explained, his expression pained. "You, Killian Jones are about to become a prince for an evening."

***AAA***

He had to admit that he looked for her in each room he entered, hoping to catch a glimpse of her golden hair and soft skin that seemed to pink at his touch. There was no real reason to seek her out, at least not one that would keep with propriety. So he made excuses to travel about the inner sanctum of the castle and hope that he might run into her. Finding her in the garden was a surprise and a treat, as she did not even notice him at first.

Her blonde hair was swept up, revealing her long pale neck that looked very much as graceful as the swans she was feeding in the pond. Her gown was a pale green hue that seemed to match the colors of that spring evening perfectly. Not alone, she was holding out bits of bread for her brother and two younger boys, instructing them how to throw out the grains for the majestic birds. Her voice was comforting as one of the birds seemed over enthusiastic and scared the young Henry. His instinct sent him running to her, hiding his face in her skirts as she soothed him and shooed away the animal.

Her left hand waved frantically to ward off the creature as her right sat on Henry's back. That was when she saw Killian approach, just as the bird heeded her warnings and sauntered off in search of some other form of nourishment.

"You seem to be ready to slay a dragon with your fierceness," Killian said, accepting a welcoming embrace from Leo without removing his eyes from Emma. "I feel quite safe with you on the guard against any foe or fowl that might threaten us."

"You're teasing," she admonished lightly, crouching down so that she was on the level with the boy at her side. "Henry, it's okay now. That bird won't hurt you." Both Henry and Roland, who was a few steps away, looked at her with big eyes and wonder. "I'll protect you."

"Aye," Killian agreed, stepping around the island of landscaping that separated him from Emma and the two younger boys. "The Princess is mighty and won't let harm come to anyone."

Managing to pull his face from the thick layers of her skirts, now damp from his tears, Henry smiled up at the blonde princess. "I thought that a knight was supposed to protect the princess, not the other way around." His words were a bit garbled and mixed with hiccoughs, but Emma gathered his meaning.

"I would say that anyone in distress would not be picky over who should save him or her," Emma explained, giving him a gentle hug before sending him off toward Roland. "And I'm quite fond of thinking I can save myself."

Leo spotted his favorite spot in the gardens, the one where a wooden board had been strung with rope over a sturdy branch. Grabbing the attention of the younger boys, he set off for it, shouting an invitation to his sister and Killian to join them.

"I was wondering where you were," Emma said as she gathered herself back up to standing. "I haven't seen you."

"I did a bit of this and that," Killian admitted, watching her face soften in the glowing light that still remained in the day. His blue eyes scanned over her face approvingly. "I had hoped to catch glimpse of you too."

"I…" her voice dropped off as she considered how to finish that sentence. "I wanted to talk to you about Elsa's revelation about the dagger." She swayed a bit as she stood, toward him whether by choice or circumstance. He didn't object.

"The Queen is certainly a great source of information," he said, his eyes sparkling with some unspoken as of yet joke. "She reminds me a bit of Mr. Smee."

Emma nearly coughed from the surprise of that comparison. "Mr. Smee, that older and pudgy gentleman on your ship?" She felt herself about to defend her beautiful friend, unsure why Killian would make such an offensive assessment.

"Not by looks, love," he said with an embarrassed titter. "I only meant that he is a loyal man who is a wealth of knowledge and seeks to help. He is a collector, always looking for trinkets and baubles that catch his eye, especially of the magical or mystical variety."

"And you think that Elsa is that way as well?" Emma asked, still unsure if the comparison was accurate or one of ridicule. "She's hardly a collector."

"Perhaps not of the physical things," Killian admitted, admiring the way that Emma stood there even against him so defiantly. Her head was thrown back and her hands fisted at her hips. It was a beautiful sight to him that stabbed him in his chest. "But she picks up bits of knowledge that she holds to until they are needed."

Her shoulders dropped, relief flooding into her. "That she does," she agreed. Even as her hackles lowered, there was a pensive look about in the shadows of her eyes.

"Should we see to your brother and his young friends? That one seems quite taken with you."

She caught herself glancing uneasily over her shoulder at the three who were thankfully taking turns without complaint on the handmade swing. "Why would the Dark One want him?" she queried, more to herself than Killian. "He's such a nice boy, nothing particularly remarkable that would make him stand out from a dozen others. Is the Dark One such a man who would torment a defenseless child?" Her voice was a bit strained as she blinked back what he assumed to be tears.

"I don't know the reason for his interest in that lad," Killian admitted with a hint of wistful want that he could provide her with the answers. "But from the brief glimpse I saw of you with him, I'd say he is far from ordinary. He seems to have worked his way into your heart, love. And I know for a fact that is no easy feat."

The smile she gave him was not a steady one. "It is not such a difficult task for some people," she said. "Henry is my step uncle or something like that. I'm not big on the titles, but there is that connection. And he's…he's the same age my own son would be if he were still alive." The admission was blurted out, but she was in enough control of her faculties to not miss the look of surprise on Killian's face.

"Your son?" he asked, managing the two words before he rocked backward in his stance. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

Emma gathered her skirts in her hands and gestured with her head toward a bench that overlooked the pond where the swans were back floating aimlessly along the surface. She swallowed with some difficulty before she found her shaking voice. "I was in love once," she said, not letting herself dwell on that statement for too long. "He was a bit older and seemed to me the answer to my prayers of freedom from the responsibility of a crown and a life of court. We had plans, always plans of escaping from whatever we felt was holding us back from the life we wanted to live. He was planning to secure us passage to another realm by trading some rare artifact for a magic bean. However, when I got there to our meeting spot, he was gone. He never contacted me again."

"And you were carrying his child?" Killian asked, trying to make sense of this in his own head.

She nodded shortly. "He didn't know. I didn't even know until after he had disappeared. My family was none too pleased that the heir to the throne was carrying a man's child without a wedding ring or any obligation to fix the situation. So I hid for a bit, stayed with Granny and Red, and with others in my mother's circle of friends. Then one night I was quite alone and delivered my son." She did not offer many details, but explained how she had not found the strength to even look upon the baby's still form. She was only half listening to his words that she was braver than he had even thought before, her conscience nagging at her again.

"Emma," he said for a third time, trying to break through to her. "I know that you will not take my words to heart, but you have nothing to be ashamed of, love. You were in love and acted in accordance with that. His actions speak of his disgrace and shortcomings, not yours."

She could not hide the tears that did fall from her eyes, even when she shifted to turn her face the opposite direction. "Henry is the same age my son would be today," she said, a soft choking sound preceding her words. "He looks so much…It has been difficult to accept lately."

"Aye," Killian said, his right arm resting on the back of the bench. He was not actually hugging her, though he practically itched to do so. "The wounds of the past can easily reopen given provocation."

"You probably think me quite dramatic with the way I'm carrying on," she said, wiping at her cheeks to dry the moisture there. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to carry on this way."

"I think nothing of the kind," he assured her. "If anything, I'm even more impressed with you. I already knew you were intelligent and beautiful, darling. I never imagined you were as strong and resilient as you are now. It only makes me find you all the more magnificent and myself quite lacking." He said it with the languor of a man who would never be satisfied with only a dream.

She hated to admit how much his admiration cheered her and encouraged her. "You are not lacking," she said, her voice not as sure as it had been even while crying. "You make me believe your words could be true."

"There is no deceit in my awe of you, Emma." The last syllable of her name fell away as her hand reached out to cup the side of his face, fingers curling to caress the arch of his cheek and her palm soft against the stubble of his jaw. His eyes fell shut involuntarily, dark lashes like shadows on his skin. "Emma."

"You are not lacking," she repeated. Even with his eyes shut he could feel her breath closer to his mouth, but still he nearly jumped in startled shock when her lips brushed against his.

She was surprising even herself as her heart took a perilous leap in her chest. The kiss she gave him was simple and unhurried, but surprisingly elongated nonetheless. His hand immediately lifted and covered hers as if he was not believing that she was truly touching him. Lingering there just a moment, Killian let his fingers trail along the smoothness of her arm in an unhurried pace, coming to rest along the long expanse of her neck with the pads of his fingers finding their way into the hair that was pulled back from her face.

A shudder passed through her as he maneuvered his own mouth against hers, deepening what had been her soft touch to him. Finding no desire to back out of the embrace they found themselves in, her eyelashes fluttered against his cheek. His mouth slowly took over hers, devouring the softness that he found there, each ministration velvety and turning from languid to hungry in a hurried way that did not seem to worry her in the least.

Breaking away from her mouth, he smiled as she tried to follow him rather than pull back on her own. "Emma, I…" His words were lost as she found her target, recapturing his lips with her own. Perhaps it was the fact that they had kissed before and so much time had passed, but Emma did not want to risk the delay. He simply gave in, feeling for all the world drugged by her as his very soul spiraled in the wake of it.

A/N: Don't hate on David too much. He's trying to accept that he is going to have to work alongside a pirate to protect Henry and the kingdom, but it is a bit much for him to accept that his daughter is the one requiring that. He'll come around to see that Killian isn't just there for his own revenge.

Hope everyone enjoys OUAT Sunday night. I may be curled up in a ball of emotions come Monday morning. I'll try to update then anyway.